Ahmedabad, 13 August 2014

Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has organized ‘Freedom from Pain Walkathons’ on August 14, 2014, to increase awareness about osteoarthritis and problems faced by patients suffering from this disease. The walkathons will be held across major cities of India, like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ambala.

The ‘Freedom from Pain Walkathon’ at Ahmedabad will start at 7 am at Gate 1 at the Kankaria Lake premises and culminate at the same place at 9 am.

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis in India, affecting over 15 million adults each year. In last few decades, it has been observed that Indians in the age group of 30 to 50 years are also falling prey to this disease and it continues to have a serious impact on the lives of elderly people. Recent surveys and studies indicate that more than 50% of senior citizens suffer from osteoarthritis and the number is bound to rise with increased life expectancy.

Most commonly, osteoarthritis affects the knee, hip, cervical, lumbar spine joints and is a leading cause of disability. The prevalence of osteoarthritis among elderly is nearly 57%.

“Osteoarthritis is a disabling disease which affects millions of Indians. At Cadila Pharmaceuticals, we continuously strive to increase awareness about this disease and alleviate the pain of Osteoarthritis patients by using research and innovation to provide affordable and quality medicines. At the ‘Freedom from Pain Walkathons’, we are inviting leading orthopedic doctors from across the country, along with their patients and patients’ relatives to be a part of this initiative”, said Dr. Rajiv Modi, Chairman and Managing Director, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

“Walking and taking the stairs is necessary to keep our knee joints healthy. Swimming, sit- ups and Suryanamaskar also help to reduce joint pain,” said Senior Ortho Surgeon and former President- Ahmedabad Ortho Society, Dr. Aditya Upadhyay.

Research shows that exercise is one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis. Exercise can decrease pain, increase flexibility, strengthen the heart and improve blood flow, maintain weight, and promote general physical fitness.